Sunset Before/After doesn't seem to work

[SimonK]

I tried setting to turn on devices 4:30 before sunset (- 4:30) but it doesn't do it.

Also I set to turn on/off lights 30 min after sunset (0:30 +), sunset is 6:52pm but in the status it states next run time is 7:20 pm which I think it should be 7:22.  

[MrBill]

In the upper right corner of the first screenshot it shows your next sunset to be at 7:52 pm, I’m not sure why with the offset you have set it would show about 30 min after, but it looks correct.

 

BTW, if you haven’t discovered this:

if

    Sunset

to Sunrise 

then 

     Turn on something 

else 

      Turn off something 

 

“then” will run at sunset, “else” will run at sunrise.   
 

those two things are the only things the program does, specifically it does not enforce that “something” will remain on during that time, it only send 1 on command and one off command at the times listed.

 

obviously, something like sunset to 11pm will work just fine too.

[SimonK]

43 minutes ago, MrBill said:

In the upper right corner of the first screenshot it shows your next sunset to be at 7:52 pm, I’m not sure why with the offset you have set it would show about 30 min after, but it looks correct.

 

BTW, if you haven’t discovered this:

if

    Sunset

to Sunrise 

then 

     Turn on something 

else 

      Turn off something 

 

“then” will run at sunset, “else” will run at sunrise.   
 

those two things are the only things the program does, specifically it does not enforce that “something” will remain on during that time, it only send 1 on command and one off command at the times listed.

 

obviously, something like sunset to 11pm will work just fine too.

How do I write:
IF sunset TO??? 

to

[MrBill]

Add to program: schedule

change “time is” to “from”

“To” will magic appear, allowing something like ‘from sunset for 4 hours”

[SimonK]

11 minutes ago, MrBill said:

Add to program: schedule

change “time is” to “from”

“To” will magic appear, allowing something like ‘from sunset for 4 hours”

Thanks...
I guess FOR is so I can have it on for x amount.... and it will trigger the else after that amount (or "TO" in your example)?   

[MrBill]

Right,  in each case the first ‘if’ element makes the program true, which causes ‘then’ to run.  The second ‘if’  element makes the program false, which causes ‘else’ to run.

[SimonK]

3 hours ago, MrBill said:

Right,  in each case the first ‘if’ element makes the program true, which causes ‘then’ to run.  The second ‘if’  element makes the program false, which causes ‘else’ to run.

Thanks for your help 
I noticed the sunset doesn't work a tall, don't know why, even without the offset (+/-)...

I have set something as you suggested, but nothing happened.

 

[MrBill]

You might open a ticket with support, it should work easily.  Been using it for many years—so the function does indeed work.

[SimonK]

On 9/22/2024 at 7:57 PM, MrBill said:

You might open a ticket with support, it should work easily.  Been using it for many years—so the function does indeed work.

I created a ticket, so far they also can't think off why the next scheduled run is different form the actual sunset even when I set to run at sunset (without off set).

 

I see there is another post with the same issue but that one looks like was solved... I willntry to ask there.

 

Thank for trying to help

[Geddy]

@SimonK will you please post your program as you currently have it? Please RIGHT CLICK on the program. Select the bottom option "Copy to Clipboard" then paste as text in your reply.

Then post a screenshot of your location window (this is to confirm the location you entered is correct and near you). Note that you should not have a negative "Long" figure. To find your coordinates find your address on Google Maps then right click and it will give you the Lat/Long (the "Long" will be negative). Enter both in the Configuration -> Clock window for your location. Otherwise, if you've selected a general location it will use the Lat/Long you see listed with that time zone selection.

Based on your program screenshot above your program is only set to run on Sundays. If you want it to run daily you need to click on the block in the "IF" and then in the bottom portion click "ALL" and then "Update". Be sure to save your program. This is why the next "TIME" the program would run isn't matching what's in the top of the screen because by Sunday that would be the next sunset time. 

  

However, you may have adjusted your program based on the advise @MrBill gave you; that is why I'm asking for the current program you are having issues with. 

 

[SimonK]

- See program below, set for everyday at sunset

- See screenshot displaying sunset, but next scheduled run is not the same at sunset

- See screenshot of my set location

 

 

 

<?xml version="1.0" ?><triggers><d2d><trigger><id>2</id><name>Sunset Copy</name><parent>1</parent><if><or /><schedule><from><sunset>0</sunset></from><for><minutes>5</minutes></for></schedule></if><then><cmd id="DON" node="12578"></cmd><cmd id="DON" node="70 F1 4 1"></cmd></then><else><cmd id="DOF" node="12578"></cmd><cmd id="DOF" node="70 F1 4 1"></cmd></else><comment></comment></trigger></d2d></triggers>

 

 

[SimonK]

30 minutes ago, Geddy said:

@SimonK will you please post your program as you currently have it? Please RIGHT CLICK on the program. Select the bottom option "Copy to Clipboard" then paste as text in your reply.

Then post a screenshot of your location window (this is to confirm the location you entered is correct and near you). Note that you should not have a negative "Long" figure. To find your coordinates find your address on Google Maps then right click and it will give you the Lat/Long (the "Long" will be negative). Enter both in the Configuration -> Clock window for your location. Otherwise, if you've selected a general location it will use the Lat/Long you see listed with that time zone selection.

Based on your program screenshot above your program is only set to run on Sundays. If you want it to run daily you need to click on the block in the "IF" and then in the bottom portion click "ALL" and then "Update". Be sure to save your program. This is why the next "TIME" the program would run isn't matching what's in the top of the screen because by Sunday that would be the next sunset time. 

  

However, you may have adjusted your program based on the advise @MrBill gave you; that is why I'm asking for the current program you are having issues with. 

 

See my post below

 

Thanks for your help

[paulbates]

This post rang a bell to when I set my eisy up about a year ago. The problem seemed to go away after leaving the program sit for a day or 2 and the problem has never returned.

 

[MrBill]

I’ve been thinking about this issue and only have two suggestions left: leave it alone and don’t fiddle with it as @paulbates suggests.

If that doesn’t solve it, then please delete the saved programs, then click save, close the admin console, delete the admin console, clear the Java cache, redownload and install a fresh copy of the admin console, then configure the time zone in the admin console and add a test program,  save it and leave it alone. 
 

also please create an integer variable called test or something and have the then statement set test = test + 1 so that you can determine the program is in fact not firing.  Maybe the underlying problem is the program is running but there’s a communication issue.

[Geddy]

11 hours ago, SimonK said:

See program below, set for everyday at sunset

You didn’t use COPY to clipboard. You used export. Please try again. 

As @paulbates and @MrBill say, leave it be. At least you have it running daily (as it seems). If a few min off of your offset makes it an issue maybe it will sort out. 

 

[larryllix]

On 9/22/2024 at 2:51 PM, SimonK said:

I tried setting to turn on devices 4:30 before sunset (- 4:30) but it doesn't do it.

Also I set to turn on/off lights 30 min after sunset (0:30 +), sunset is 6:52pm but in the status it states next run time is 7:20 pm which I think it should be 7:22.  

Sunset and  sunrise change by about 2 minutes every day of the year except peak winter and peak summer.

[SimonK]

4 hours ago, larryllix said:

Sunset and  sunrise change by about 2 minutes every day of the year except peak winter and peak summer.

When I set the program it is prior to sunset, so I expect it should run TODAY at sunset or TODAY at -xx:xx Suset, not the next day sunset 

[larryllix]

On 9/25/2024 at 12:30 PM, SimonK said:

When I set the program it is prior to sunset, so I expect it should run TODAY at sunset or TODAY at -xx:xx Suset, not the next day sunset 

I am confused. Your original post showed it basically correct. Your program was sunset+30 minutes. Now you are complaining about sunset-30 minutes and it not operating today?

I offered an explanation for the 2 minute calc error but now you are saying it didn't operate one evening but it did the next it did?

Perhaps listen to some of the experienced helpers here, that have given advise, think about it, and respond to them. i see no problems except your story appears to be changing about what the problem is.